diff --git a/src/basic_memory/api/v2/routers/project_router.py b/src/basic_memory/api/v2/routers/project_router.py
index 28cd1b3b..810d521b 100644
--- a/src/basic_memory/api/v2/routers/project_router.py
+++ b/src/basic_memory/api/v2/routers/project_router.py
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ async def update_project_by_id(
         return ProjectStatusResponse(
             message=f"Project '{updated_project.name}' updated successfully",
             status="success",
-            default=(old_project.name == project_service.default_project),
+            default=old_project.is_default or False,
             old_project=old_project_info,
             new_project=ProjectItem(
                 id=updated_project.id,
@@ -251,7 +251,8 @@ async def delete_project_by_id(
             raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail=f"Project with ID {project_id} not found")
 
         # Check if trying to delete the default project
-        if old_project.name == project_service.default_project:
+        # Use is_default from database, not ConfigManager (which doesn't work in cloud mode)
+        if old_project.is_default:
             available_projects = await project_service.list_projects()
             other_projects = [p.name for p in available_projects if p.id != project_id]
             detail = f"Cannot delete default project '{old_project.name}'. "
@@ -305,12 +306,11 @@ async def set_default_project_by_id(
     logger.info(f"API v2 request: set_default_project_by_id for project_id={project_id}")
 
     try:
-        # Get the old default project
-        default_name = project_service.default_project
-        default_project = await project_service.get_project(default_name)
+        # Get the old default project from database
+        default_project = await project_repository.get_default_project()
         if not default_project:
             raise HTTPException(
-                status_code=404, detail=f"Default Project: '{default_name}' does not exist"
+                status_code=404, detail="No default project is currently set"
             )
 
         # Get the new default project
@@ -327,7 +327,7 @@ async def set_default_project_by_id(
             default=True,
             old_project=ProjectItem(
                 id=default_project.id,
-                name=default_name,
+                name=default_project.name,
                 path=default_project.path,
                 is_default=False,
             ),